Greenhouse ridge assembly



June 16, 1953 I v w, wEEBER 2,642,018

GREENHOUSE RIDGE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 23, 1950 INVENTOR.

K. WILLIAM WEEBER PIC S5 I I fi jz ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES r ATENT OFFICE v 7 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in a greenhouse ridge assembly which forms the top ridge member of a greenhouse and also supports hinged ventilators in a new, simple, and novel manner. It is a feature to provide a ridge assembly all of the parts of which may easily be formed from extruded aluminum.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a ridge frame member which in conjunction with my ridge cap hingedly supports my ridge sash link which in turn hingedly supports the upper sash member of a greenhouse ventilator whereby a ventilator may be raised to any position from a closed position to a vertical position.

It is a primary feature to provide a ridge frame which is positioned lengthwise of the greenhouse having formed on both sides thereof a longitudinal arcuated lip portion the length of the frame. I also provide a ridge cap having formed on both sides of the under surface thereof longitudinal arcuated lip portions running the length of the ridge cap.

It is a further feature to provide screw means for securing the ridge cap to the ridge frame whereby the arcuated lip portions of the under side of the ridge cap are complemental with the arcuated lip portions of the ridgeframe thereby forming a partial cylindrical C-shaped slot. It is also an additional feature to provide a sash hinge link member having a longitudinal rodlike portion adapted to fit in the aforementioned C-shaped slot for hingingtherein. I- also provide on the hinge link member a C-shaped partial cylindrical edge member adapted to receive the longitudinal rod-like portion of the sash of the ventilator window for hinged cooperation therewith. The sash hinge link allows the ventilator to be opened to a vertical position and is an important feature not heretofore disclosed.

By means of new construction the ventilator -may be placed in position without sliding the ventilator top rod rail into the ridge from one end or the other, but the ventilator can be connected at any point along any size greenhouse by means of the ridge cap which is fastened to the ridge frame after the ventilator ridge sash link is put in place by means of self-threading metal screws. Furthenwith old forms of ridge members it was onlypossible to raise ventilators a short distance and a ridge look was needed.

The invention willappear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment ofthe inventive idea.

In'the drawings forming part of the application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of my ridge assembly and ventilator showing in broken lines the ventilator partially open.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of .the sash link.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of my ridge frame member.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of the full lines of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a portion of my ridge cap in inverted position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the ventilator in full open position. I

Figure '7 is an end. view of my ridge frame and integral with, or may be secured to, the upper edge of the central rib portion In. The bifurcated top portion I2 is composed of the side portions I3 which form the longitudinal slot l4 adapted to receive the metal self-threading screws [4. The longitudinal arcuated lip portions I5 are formed integral with and extend from the juncture of the side portions 13 and the central rib portion Ill.

The ridge cap 0 is composed of the central longitudinal portion 16 having formed therein the longitudinal recess 11 which is adapted to fit upon the upper edges of the side portions [3 of the ridge frame B. Extending outwardly from the central portion 1-6 are the longitudinal arcuated lip portions 18. The ridge cap C has formed therein a series of holes I9 extending into the slot l'l adapted to receive the self-threading screws id for securing the ridge cap C to the ridge frame member B by screwing the screws l4 into the longitudinal slot 14. The screws l4 may be secured at any point'along the slot hi by providing the holes I4 at any desirable point on the ridge cap C which greatly facilitates construction. The ridge frame B and ridge cap C are easily extruded from aluminum and may be made of any length for any size greenhouse, the holes 19 spaced, accordingly in the ridge cap C.

I further provide the sash hinge-like D which consists of the longitudinal elongated rod-like male hinge portion together with the iongitudinal plate extension portion 2 I. The partial cylindrical female portion 22 is integral with and extends from the plate extension 2|. The sash portion 23 in which the glass 24 forming part of the ventilator is held consists of the male longitudinal rod hinge portion 25 having integral therewith the fiat extension portion 26. The glass 24 is positioned and held within the sash 23 by means of the putty 21 and the shoulders 23' and 21'.

With the ridge cap C secured in position on the ridge frame B the longitudinal openings 28 are formed by the edges 29 of the arcuated lip portions l5 and the edges 30 of the arcuated lip portions l8 of the ridge cap C. The rodlike male hinge portion 20 is positioned and articulates between the portions I5 and [8. The openings 28 are of such width so as to prevent the rod portion 20 from coming out of the same, the edges 29 and 30 necessarily acting as stops limiting the movement of the plate extension 2 I.

Lengths of the sash hinge-link D are required at various points along the ridge frame B to hingedly support sash members 23. The lengths of sash links D may be easily placed in correct position on the arcuated lip portions then the ridge cap C secured in position for hinging as hereinbefore described. Thus, the

rod shaped portion 20 does not have to be slipped into the endof a channel similar to that formed by. the lip members 15 and I8, but the ventilator can easily be connected at any point along any size greenhouse by means of securing the ridge cap C which is fastened to the ridge after the ventilator is put in place. No ridge lock is needed for the male member 20.

The cylindrical portion 25 is inserted in the female portion 22 for articulation therein.

If it is desired to open the ventilator glass 24 a short distance, the articulation of the male rod portion 25 within the female cylindrical member 22 as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 1 is sufficient and this type of limitation is inherent where a rod portion similar to member 25 is positioned within a female partial cylindrical member such as that formed by lip extensions I5 and i8. With my construction including the sash link D the ventilator glass 24 may be raised up to a further vertical position as illustrated in Figure 6.

The edges 3| of the female portion 22 limit the movement of the extension 26 and prohibit the male rod portion from coming .out of the female portion 22. 7

With my construction the sash link D may be made equal in length to the members B and '0 together with a sash 26 and rod portion 25' of the same length thereby providing a ventilator the entire length of the unit 13 and C which would extend the full length of the greenhouse. The rod portion 20 is placed upon the arcuated tip portion l5 before securing the ridge cap member 0, which construction greatly simplifies and facilitates the building of the ridge assembly unit.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,rwhat I I5 and ated lip portions forming a slot therebetween, a

sash hinge linkincluding a central plate portion,a

' male rod-like portion secured to one edge of said central plate portion adapted to hingedly fit in said female cylindrical casings with said central plate portion extending through said slot formed by the edges of said arcuated lip portions, and a partial cylindrical female portion secured to the other edge of said central plate portion adapted to receive the male hinge portion of a ventilator sash member.

2. A building ridge assembly consisting of a ridge frame having a central body portion, longitudinal leg portions extending from said central body portion, arcuated flange portions extending from said central body portion, a ridge cap including a central portion, arcuated flange portions extending from said central portion complemental to said flange portions of said body portion, and means for securing said ridge cap to said ridge frame with said arcuated flange portions of said ridge frame complemental to those of said ridge cap.

3. In a greenhouse ridge member, a central body portion, arcuated lip portions formed on both sides of said central body portion, a ridge cap having a central portion, arcuated lip portions formed on both sides of said ridge cap central'portion complementary to said lip portions formed on said central body for receiving a hinge rod member and means for securing said ridge cap to said central body portion.

4. A greenhouse ridge member including a body member, an arcuated lip portion formed on said body member, a ridge cap having a central portion, an arcuated lip portion formed on said central portion of said ridge cap complementary to said body member lip portion, and means for securing said ridge cap to said body member whereby said arcuated lip portions are complemental to each other for supporting a hinge rod.

5. In a greenhouse ridge member, a ridge frame having a central vertical longitudinal rib portion, longitudinal leg portions extending from said central rib portion, a top portion formed on the upper edge of said central rib portion, arcuated lip portions extending from said top portion, a ridge cap including a central portion having a recess formed therein adapted to receive said top portion, arcuated lip portions extending from said central portion of said ridge cap complementary with said first mentioned arcuated lip portions, and means for securing said ridge cap to said ridge frame.

6. A greenhouse ridge assembly consisting of a ridge frame member having arcuated lip portions formed thereon, a ridge cap having arcuated lip portions formed thereon complemental to said ridge frame lip portions, means for securing said ridge cap to said ridge frame, thereby forming partial cylindrical female port-ions, a sash hinge link having a body portion, a rod-dike portion formed on said body portion adapted to coact with said female portions, a partial female cylindrical portion formed on said body portion, an upper sash member having a rod-like portion formed thereon positioned within said second fev mal portion for hinged connection therewith.

7. A building ridge pole unit formed of metal including a frame member, a longitudinal flange formed on said frame having an arcuated inner surface, a cap bar member extending over said flange and having a complemental inner arcuated surface which cooperates with the arcuated surface of said longitudinal flange, a longitudinal recess formed in said frame member, screw means for engaging in said recess at any point therein to secure said cap, a sash hinge link having a rodlike longitudinal upper edge fitting between said arcuated surfaces of said longitudinal flange and said cap member to hingedly support the same and a tubular lower longitudinal portion formed along said sash link for hingedly supporting the rod-like edge of the sash frame which supports the glass of the building.

K. l/VILLIAM WEEBER.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 731,138 Stearns 'June 16, 1903 1,841,898 Lehman Jan. 19, 1932 1,926,160 McKee Sept. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,911 Great Britain of 1887 

